Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Utility of factor D and other alternative complement factors as biomarkers in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH)
Authors' conclusion
Our work confirms prior studies demonstrating a role for complement activation in SSc vascular disease and elevations of factor D in a large SSc-PAH population. Further, factor H and other complement factors are associated with severity of PAH including mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SSc-PAH, SSc without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and healthy controls52 SSc-PAH in longitudinal study
- Participants
- 156 / 33 / 40
- Exposure
- SSc-PAH vs SSc without PAH vs healthy controls
- SSc-PAHn = 156
- SSc without PAHn = 33reference
- Healthy controlsn = 40
- Outcome
- Serum complement components (n = 14), incl. factor D, in SSc-PAH vs comparators
Methodological detailscross-sectional and longitudinal analysis, multi-site repository, multiplex assays, longitudinal sub-study within a prior clinical trial
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis
- Multi-site repository
- Multiplex assays
- Longitudinal sub-study within a prior clinical trial
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Factor D
Factor D AUC for SSc-PAH (highly sensitive and specific)
AUC=0.82
p < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Association with PAH severity in SSc-PAH
- Alterations in factor H, C4 and factor D associated with RHC measures (cardiac output, right atrial pressure, VO2 max), survival and 6-minute walk distance
Longitudinal complement levels (0–48 weeks) · 0, 4, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks
- No significant changes in complement levels or clinical associations over time or with treatment
Original publication
Utility of factor D and other alternative complement factors as biomarkers in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH). Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 13 September 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →